Wristband structure



May 30, 1961 J. M. SWECKER, JR

WRISTBAND STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

J ouu M-SUJEC K5 W A-r-ro zzuevs lil United States Patent O F WRISTBANDSTRUCTURE John M. Swecker, Jr., Blue Grass, Va.

Filed Nov. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 773,913

6 Claims. c1. 224-4 The present invention relates to a wristbandstructure. An object of the present invention is to provide an articleof manufacture for use in producing a wrist watch band half section.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wristbandstructure which is comfortable to wear, one having ventilating means forthe wrist of the wearer, and one which is neat and attractive inappearance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wristbandstructure which lends itself to packaging and sales in an unfinishedcondition for completion by the purchaser.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide awristband structure which is sturdy in construction, one simple instructure, and one which is economically feasible. These and otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparentfrom the following description when taken in conjunction with theannexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a wrist watch with the wristbandstructure of the present invention forming two sections of a wrist watchband attached to the wrist watch;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the sections shown in Figure 1 beforeforming, with a part broken away;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one end of one end portion of one of thesections shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an isometric view showing one of the wristband structures inpartially assembled condition;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the sections shown in Figure 1 inunfinished condition;

Figure 6 is a plan view as seen from the bottom of the section shown inFigure 5, with a portion of the section broken away;

Figure 7 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 7--7 ofFigure 5;

Figure 8 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure5;

Figure 9 is a view taken on the line 99 of Figure 7, the dotted lineshowing indicating a finished upper end of the band section.

Referring in greater detail'to the drawing in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, in Figure '1 a wristwatch is shown and designated by the reference numeral 10. The wristbandstructure according to the p'resent'invention is shown in two sections12 and 14 and as both sections are substantially identical, they will bedescribed with reference to the section 12.

The watchband structure half section 12 comprises a flexible strip 16having between the ends thereof a plurality of crease lines 18 arrangedin spaced relation and extending transversely from one side edge 20 tothe other side edge of the strip 16. The strip 16 is formed with atransversely disposed slit 24 between the side edges 20 and 22 onopposite sides of and adjacent to and spaced from each of the creaselines 18. The slits 24 are in longitudinal alignment.

2,986,313 Patented May 30, 1961 A flexible elongated tongue 26 projectslongitudinally from and is integrally connected with one end of thestrip 16. The tongue 26 is foldable upon the strip 16 so that theintegrally connected end overlies the strip at one end of the latter andforms a fold for reception of a closed loop of a wrist watch, the wristwatch 10 and its closed loops being conventional and not here furtherdescribed for reasons of simplification.

Figure 4 shows the tongue 26 being inserted into and extending throughthe aligned slits 24 and in Figure 5 the portion adjacent the free endof the tongue 26 projects beyond the end of the strip 16 remote from theloop which is formed for receiving the closed loop of the wrist watch10. The parts of the strip 16 between each crease line 18 and theadjacent slits 24 form spaced transversely disposed plaits which areconnected together and project outwardly from one face of the strip, asshown in Figure 7, the plaits having their tops coplanar, such plaitsbeing designated by the reference numeral 28.

When the strip :16 is bent along each of the crease lines 18, the plaitsof the strip between the crease lines 18 also form spaced transverselydisposed notches extending inwardly from the underface of the section12, or section 14.

The notches are designated in Figure 6 by the numerals 30 and when thestrip 16 is on the wrist of a wearer, the notches 30 form ventilatingchannels for the band section 12 and section 14.

The section 14 is formed in the identical manner as above described withrespect to the section 12 with the additional feature that the tongue26' is turned back upon itself to form a loop 32 for receiving oneportion of a buckle 34. Also, the strip 16 is provided with a pair ofspaced apertures 36 receiving the legs of an inverted U-shaped rigidelement 38 under the bight of which passes the tongue 26 of the section12 when the watchband structure is in place upon the wrist of a wearer.

In the finishing of the sections 12 and 14, the upper ends of the plaits28 are curved adjacent the side edges 20 and 22, as shown in dottedlines in Figure 9, and a suitable finishing material such as shellac,varnish, liquid plastic or the like, is spread over the upper ends ofeach plait 28 so as to provide apleasing appearance to the watchband ofthe present invention. The curved finish line of the plaits 28 isdesignated by the numeral 40 in Figure 9. Y

The tongue 26 is provided with spaced holes 42 which constitute, withthe buckle 34, cooperating releasable fastening means on the portionsadjacent the free ends of said tongues, while the loops formed by thetongues 26, 26 folded back on the strips 16, 16' constitute othercooperating fastening means on the other ends of the strips 16, 16'remote from the tongues 26, 26' for securement to the watch 10.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture for use in producing a half section of awrist watch band comprising a foldable structure, said structurecomprising a flexible strip having between the ends thereof a pluralityof crease lines an I ranged in spaced relation and extendingtransversely fromone side edgeto the other side edge of the strip,

there being a transversely disposed slit in said strip between the sideedges thereof on opposite sides of and adjacent to and spaced from eachcrease line, said slits being in longitudinal alignment, and a flexibleelongated tongue projecting longitudinally from and integralend of saidstrip, the parts of said strip between each crease line and adjacentslits forming spaced transversely spacers '3 disposed plaits projectingoutwardly from one face of said strip.

2. An article .of manufacturcfor use in producing a half section ofawrist watchiband comprising a foldable structure, said structurecomprising a'flexible strip having between the ends thereof-a pluralityof crease .lines arranged in spaced relation andexten'ding transverselyfrom one side edge tothe other side edgeof the strip, there being atransversely disposed slit in .said strip between the side edges thereofon opposite sides of and adjacent to and spaced fromeach-creaseline,said slits being in longitudinal alignmenhtand a-flexible elongatedtongue projecting longitudinally from and integrally connected with oneend of .said strip, said tongue being foldable upon said strip with thetongue inserted in and extending through all of the aligned slits andhaving the portion adjacent the free end projecting beyond the other endof said strip, the parts of saidstrip between each crease line andadjacent slits forming spaced .transversely disposed plaits projectingoutwardly from .one face of said strip and also forming spacedtransversely disposed notches extending inwardly from the other face ofsaid strip, said notches when-said strip is in position on a wrist of awearer forming ventilating channels.

3. An article of manufacture for use in producing a half section of awrist watch band comprising a foldable structure, said structurecomprising a flexible strip having between the ends thereof a'pluralityof'crease lines arranged in spaced relation and extending .transverselyfrom one side edge to the other side edge of the strip, there being atransversely disposed slit in said strip between the side edges thereofon opposite sides of and adjacent to and spaced from each crease line,said slits being in longitudinal alignment, and a flexible elongatedtongue projecting longitudinally from and integrally connected with oneend of said strip, saidtongue being foldable upon said strip so that theintegrally connected end overlies said strip one end and forms afoldvforreception of a closed loop of a wrist watch with the tongue inserted inandextending through all of the aligned slits and having the portionadjacent the free-end projecting beyond the other end of said strip, theparts of said strip between each crease line and adjacent slits formingspaced transversely disposed plaits projecting outwardly from one faceof said strip.

4. An article of manufacture for use 'in producing a half section of awrist watch band comprising a foldable structure, said structurecomprising a flexible strip having between the ends thereof a'pluralityof crease lines arranged in spaced relation and extending transverselyfrom one side edge to the other side edge of the strip, there being atransversely disposed slit in saidstrip etween the side edges thereof onopposite sides of and adjacent to and spaced from each crease line, saidslits being in longitudinal alignment, and a flexibleelongated tongueprojecting longitudinally from and integrally con nected with one end ofsaid strip, said tongue being foldable upon said strip so that theintegrally connected end overlies said strip one end and forms a foldfor reception of a closed loop of a wrist watch with the tongue insertedin and extending through all of the aligned slits and having the portionadjacent the free end projecting beyond the other end of said strip, theparts of said strip between each crease line and adjacent slits formingspaced transversely disposed plaits projecting outwardly from one faceof said strip and also forming spaced transversely disposed notchesextending inwardly from the other face of said strip, said notches whensaid strip is in position on a wrist of awearer forming ventilatingchannels.

5. An article of manufacture for use inproducing a wrist watch bandconsisting of two half sections, each half section comprising a foldablestructure, said structure comprising a flexible strip having between theends thereof a plurality of crease lines'arranged in spaced relation andextending transversely from one side edge to the other side edge of thestrip, there being a transversely disposed slit in said strip betweenthe side edges thereof on opposite sides of and adjacent to andspacedfrom each creaseline, said slits being in longitudinal alignment,and a flexible elongated tongue projecting longitudinally from andintegrally connected with one endof said strip, said tongue beingfoldable upon said strip-with the tongue inserted in and extendingthrough all of the aligned slits and having the portion adjacent thefree end projecting beyond the other end of said strip, the parts ofsaid strip between each crease line and adjacent slits forming spacedtransversely disposed plaitsgprojecting outwardly'from one face of saidstrip, and cooperating releasable fastening means on the portionsadjacent the free ends of'said tongue and the other ends of saidistrips.

6. An article of manufacture for use 'in producing a wrist watch bandconsisting of two half sections, each half section comprising a foldablestructure, said structure comprising a flexible strip having betweenthe-ends thereof a plurality of crease lines arranged inspaced-relationand extending transversely from one side edge -to the other side edge ofthe strip, there being a transversely disposed slit in said stripbetween the side edges thereof on opposite'sides of and adjacent to andspaced from each crease line, said slits'being in longitudinalalignment, and a flexible elongated tongue projecting longitudinallyfrom and integrally connected with one ,end of said strip, said tonguebeing foldable upon said strip with the tongue inserted in and extendingthrough all of the alignedslits and having the portion adjacent the freeend projecting beyond the other end of said strip, theparts of saidstripbetween each crease line and adjacent slits forming spaced transverselydisposed plaits projecting outwardly from one face of said strip andalso forming spaced transversely disposed notches extending inwardlyfrom the other face of said strip, said notches when said strip-is inposition on a wrist of a wearer forming-ventilating channels,andcooperating releasable fastening meanson the portions adjacent the freeends of saidtongue and-the other ends of said strips.

References Cited in the fileof this'zpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,626,169 Schwalberg Apr.,26, l927 2,359,148 Partridge -Sept. 26, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS 18,537 Great Britain ,l9l3

